Department for Transport

Ports: Isles of Scilly

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role they have played in relation to the Duchy of Cornwall’s Consultation on its Governance Review of St Mary’s Harbour.

Baroness Kramer: Representatives of St Mary’s Harbour (Duchy of Cornwall) briefed officials about the proposed Governance Review in September 2014. A further meeting to discuss progress on the review following the recent informal consultation with key local stakeholders on proposed changes to the governance of St Mary’s Harbour will be held later this month.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Robert Goodwill, on 5 March (HC225928), what evidence is currently being reviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority in respect of the possibility of genetic factors which might influence individual susceptibility to environmental toxins.

Baroness Kramer: The Civil Aviation Authority are reviewing the issue of genetic susceptibility to toxins in the context of documents provided by Dorset Coroner’s office.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Robert Goodwill, on 4 March (HC225506), how many fume events occurred in flights observed by researchers conducting the Cranfield University study; whether the available health and safety standards and guidelines include the effects of pyrolised oil at temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Celsius in an enclosed space; and what assessment they have made of the advice from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment that contaminated air is causing ill health but that they do not know the mechanism by which it has that effect.

Baroness Kramer: A total of 38 flights had fumes or smells reported by at least one crew member or researcher during the Cranfield study. The Health and Safety Executive are responsible for introducing guidelines on health and safety at work legislation. However, the Cranfield study found that with respect to the conditions of flight that were experienced during the cabin air sampling, there was no evidence for pollutants occurring in cabin air at levels exceeding available health and safety standards and guidelines. The Committee on Toxicity (the COT) made a number of conclusions in their assessment. The Department welcomed these and forwarded the COT report to the European Aviation Safety Agency for their information.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Regional Planning and Development: North West

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the £330 million investment in the North East Growth Deal, what plans they have to increase the North West Fund; and what plans they have to increase the proportion of capital available to the Merseyside region.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: A total of £1.25bn has been secured by the five LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships) in the North West – Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria – from the Government’s Local Growth Fund. As part of this, Liverpool City Region secured £232.2 million in July 2014 and a further £31.6 million through the expansion to Growth Deals in January 2015.   The North West Fund is an ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Financial Engineering Instrument which can invest £155 million into SMEs across the North West, including Merseyside, until 31st December 2015. 50% of the fund is public sector resources coming from the ERDF programme (£77.5 million) and 50% from the private sector (a further £77.5 million). This will provide loan and equity investments to SMEs in the North West.   As of December 2014 the fund had invested £111.18 million in capital funding across the North West, of which £36.8 million had been invested to support SMEs in Merseyside. There is sufficient residual funding within the North West Fund to support the capital investment in Merseyside which has already been identified by local partners for the remainder of 2015.   The Department is currently working with LEPs to develop the 2014-20 ERDF Programme; we anticipate the Operational Programme will receive approval by the European Commission in June 2015. In anticipation of this approval, we are aware that the Liverpool City Region is proposing from its nominal allocation to invest £12.5 million into an Access to Finance Financial Instrument, and £24 million into an Urban Development & Energy Efficiency (non –domestic) Financial Instrument.

EU Internal Trade

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the benefit or disbenefit of Single Market legislation to United Kingdom companies which do not export to that market.

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not carried out any assessment of the benefits or costs of single market legislation to UK companies which do not export to that market.

Cars: Exports

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new cars the United Kingdom exported in (1) 2013, and (2) 2014, by (a) country of destination, and (b) marque.

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: The total number of cars built in UK for export in 2013 was 1,201,395. In 2014 the figure was 1,195,196. A breakdown by marque and destination is not available, although data on the value of UK’s exports of motor cars by destination is published by H M Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The total value of UK car exports in 2013 was £24.4 Billion. In 2014, the total value of UK car exports was £25.7 Billion It should be noted that the data excludes public transport vehicles, freight vehicles and exports of motor car components.   UK EXPORTS OF MOTOR CARS 2013-20142013£ Millions 2014£ Millions   China4,349 China5,448   United States3,319 United States3,292   Belgium1,684 Belgium2,426   Russia1,645 Germany1,475   Germany1,347 Russia1,381   France1,100 Italy1,154   Italy1,018 Spain1,011   Netherlands843 Netherlands755   Spain826 France571   Australia611 UAE569   Sweden554 Australia535   UAE499 Sweden429   Japan424 Japan394   Turkey403 Irish Republic380   South Africa366 Turkey355   Norway349 Canada349   Irish Republic304 Norway337   Switzerland286 Switzerland307   Canada279 South Korea306   Brazil251 Finland303   Rest of the World3,987 Rest of the World3,953   Total Exports24,442 Total Exports25,729

Regulation

Lord Mawson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of how effective their policy to reduce red tape has been; and what evidence they have to support those conclusions.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: This Government has saved businesses £2.2bn per annum by cutting regulation through One-in, One-out (later One-in, Two-out) and the Red Tape Challenge. These savings are set out in the Ninth Statement of New Regulation, and have been independently validated by the Regulatory Policy Committee. The Statement can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/one-in-two-out-ninth-statement-of-new-regulations   The ‘One-in, One-out’ rule introduced by this Government was introduce to stem the flow of disproportionate regulation by requiring departments to find £1 of regulatory saving to business for every £1 of new regulatory cost. In 2013, we increased our ambition even further by doubling the rule to ‘One-in, Two-out’. Through the Red Tape Challenge, we have tackled the stock of unnecessary, over-complicated and burdensome regulation. Our starting point has been that regulation should go unless there is good justification for the Government to be involved.   This combined approach to challenging the stock and flow of regulation has made a difference to business experience of red tape in the UK. This is illustrated in the World Economic Forum’s recent ranking of the UK as having the lowest perceived burden of regulation in the G7, a substantial improvement from 2010, when the UK had the third highest perceived burden of regulation in the G7.

Department for International Development

Private Infrastructure Development Group

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 19 February (HL 4577), what were the uses to which the £360 million deposited in the Private Development Group Account were put; and what results those have produced so far.

Baroness Northover: DFID’s investment in the PIDG has supported 35 projects, including in energy, agricultural infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, transport, ports and roads. These projects have created nearly 200,000 jobs and driven £6.8 billion of private investment into some of the world’s poorest countries. In 2013 alone, eight PIDG projects started operations, bringing new or improved services to 8.6 million people.

Palestinians

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have fulfilled their pledge of £20 million to kick-start Gaza's economy made at the reconstruction conference in Cairo on 12 October 2014; how much of the total amount pledged at that conference has been paid; and what action they are taking to encourage other donor countries who have not yet done so to fulfil their pledges.

Baroness Northover: The UK has disbursed £5 million of our £20 million pledge and we are working hard to disburse the remaining funds over the course of the coming financial year. Gaza’s economy will only recover, however, if reconstruction efforts form part of a process of meaningful political change that will address the underlying causes of the conflict and transform the situation in Gaza. The need for political progress from all parties has never been more apparent. In the meantime, we are engaging with the World Bank’s new mechanism to track donor pledges committed at the Cairo conference and we are urging that all major International donors make good on their pledges.

Syria

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial and other support has been given, or will be given, to the governments of Lebanon and Jordan to ensure they can keep their borders open for Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict in that country.

Baroness Northover: The Department for International Development has committed £191 million to Lebanon and £164 million to Jordan as part of our response to the crisis in Syria. UK support is providing clean water and hygiene facilities, food and household items, cash assistance, medical care, better quality accommodation, winterisation and cold weather protection, transportation services, early grade learning, primary education and support for small scale agriculture for refugee populations and the communities which host them.

Syria

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they have given to traumatised Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.

Baroness Northover: The Department for International Development has to date committed £800 million to help those affected by the conflict in Syria. This support includes funding to provide training for health workers in emergency first aid, trauma care, clinical management of rape, mental healthcare and psychosocial support to assist displaced Syrians in Lebanon, Jordan, other states neighbouring Syria and within Syria itself who have experienced conflict-related trauma, including sexual violence. By the end of September 2014, the UK had supported over 630,000 children and over 55,400 adults with psychosocial interventions in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the wider region.

Middle East

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether further military action by coalition forces in Syria and Iraq will further displace civilians; and what plans are in place if that happens.

Baroness Northover: The UK and our coalition partners are doing all we can to minimise the risks of civilian impact of coalition military action. The UN has reported that airstrikes have caused some local-level internal displacement, but the ongoing conflict is the main cause of displacement of civilians. In both Syria and Iraq, the UN carries out regular humanitarian contingency planning exercises, including preparing for the potential impact of military operations. UK humanitarian advisors on the ground are also monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work closely with the UN, international partners and the Government of Iraq to ensure that effective plans and coordination structures are in place to respond to a variety of scenarios. The UK is also providing substantial humanitarian assistance for those affected by the conflict. To date the UK has pledged £800 million to respond to Syria crisis and a further £39.5 million for those affected by conflict in Iraq.

Sudan

The Duke of Montrose: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to secure unhindered humanitarian access to assist civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, in the light of the recent destruction of crops and the disruption of agricultural activity.

Baroness Northover: In the joint US, UK and Norway statement of 23 December we renewed our call for all parties in the Two Areas, as well as Sudan’s other conflict zones, to immediately allow full and unfettered humanitarian access. It is vital that both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North make this a priority issue in the next round of African Union High Implementation Panel mediated peace talks, a point that we make consistently to both sides.

The Lord Chairman of Committees

House of Lords: Clocks and Watches

Lord Brougham and Vaux: To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the reason for the placement of the new clock at the end of the Content Lobby.

Lord Sewel: The clock, known as Lord Grimthorpe’s regulator, was bequeathed to the House of Lords by Edward Heywood. Lord Grimthorpe was also the designer of Parliament’s Great Clock.Upon Mr Heywood’s death last year, the clock was delivered to Parliament and potential locations for its display were discussed by the House of Lords Works of Art Committee. As it is a wall mounted timepiece, there were limited locations in which to display it, and the niche at the end of the Content Lobby proved to be ideal as it could be viewed by Peers and is relatively safe from accidental damage. It can also be easily accessed for regular winding and maintenance.Before it went on display in the February half term Recess, the mechanism and case were restored. There will be a piece explaining the clock’s history in this month’s Red Benches and a short note about it produced in due course.

House of Lords: Recruitment

Lord Storey: To ask the Chairman of Committees how many job vacancies within the House of Lords were advertised on the parliamentary website in 2014; and what proportion of posts filled were available to external candidates.

Lord Sewel: Between 1 January and 31 December 2014 the House of Lords Administration advertised 81 job vacancies on either the intranet (for internal vacancies) or the parliamentary website (for external vacancies). All external vacancies were open to internal applicants. Of the 81 job vacancies advertised, 42 (51.85%) were advertised to external candidates on the parliamentary website. In many cases, externally advertised vacancies were also uploaded onto job boards and specialist websites.

Ministry of Defence

Cyprus

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Astor of Hever on 2 December 2014 (HL3199) and 20 January (HL3958), why, and since when, they have transferred the administration of the Remembrance Sunday events at Wayne’s Keep in Cyprus to UNFICYP; why family members of those who died during the Cyprus Emergency were not invited, or their attendance facilitated; and why they do not support the accessible Memorial Service at the British Cemetery in Girne where family members and regimental representatives are able to be present.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Astor of Hever on 2 December 2014 (HL3199) and 20 January 2015 (HL3958), whether, and to what extent, the change in the administration of the Wayne’s Keep service and their lack of representation at the Girne Remembrance Sunday services is the result of diplomatic concessions.

Lord Astor of Hever: There has been no change in the administration of the United Nations service of Remembrance at Wayne's Keep in Nicosia, which continues to be organised by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). As Wayne's Keep is located in the UN Buffer Zone, UNFICYP makes the arrangements so that relatives and guests can visit the cemetery. It remains a matter for UNFICYP to determine the guest list for the annual United Nations Remembrance Sunday Service. The British Government continues to commemorate all UK Service personnel killed in Cyprus at this event.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, from 2001–02 to the latest year for which data are available, what was the annual track mileage figure for (1) Challenger 2, (2) Warrior, (3) FV430, and (4) CVR(T), vehicles.

Lord Astor of Hever: The annual track mileage figures in kilometres for Challenger 2, Warrior, FV430 and CVR(T) are:   Financial YearChallenger 2WarriorFV430CVR(T)2001-02264,183576,643578,062919,0242002-03231,606532,894448,776812,2902003-04160,840396,683385,454567,6832004-05216,057354,049311,211512,2832005-06133,901345,107288,752547,9682006-07114,837315,109253,723465,8592007-08126,154374,006212,379414,7142008-09159,961344,78065,197322,3632009-10113,876229,16822,911276,8492010-1149,902176,950-192,6212011-1268,838227,842-239,0982012-1375,537236,365-241,6722013-1472,638209,764-166,722 - The FV430 fleet is no longer in service.

Department for Work and Pensions

National Insurance

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many valid National Insurance numbers were in use at the end of (1) 2013, and (2) 2014.

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what immigration status non-British citizens are required to have to be allocated a National Insurance number; in what circumstances non-European Union citizens admitted to the United Kingdom on time-limited visas are entitled to National Insurance numbers; and what arrangements are made automatically to cancel the numbers on the expiry of the visas.

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for Work and Pensions is informed when holders of United Kingdom National Insurance numbers receive custodial sentences; and whether the Department reassesses the benefits and other payments to which such persons are entitled.

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ascertain how many non-British nationals hold United Kingdom National Insurance numbers; and how many are citizens of (1) other European Union countries, and (2) non-European Union countries.

Lord Freud: Information as to how many National Insurance numbers were in use at the end of (1) 2013 and (2) 2014 could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Non-British nationals, including those with time-limited visas, must be able to prove their identity, have a lawful immigration status and permission to work in the UK before they are entitled to a National Insurance number. The Department for Work and Pensions does not cancel National Insurance numbers. This is because a National Insurance number, even if only used for a limited period, links an individual to their National Insurance contributions record which may be relevant in any future claim to benefits or State Pension. The Department for Work and Pensions is provided with information by National Offender Management Service relating to all prisoners received into custody. On receipt of this information checks are undertaken by DWP to identify any benefit recipients. If benefit is in payment to any individual identified from this information the claim will be reassessed and DWP systems updated to reflect the change of circumstances. There are no plans to take steps to ascertain how many non-British nationals hold United Kingdom National Insurance numbers.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Biodiversity: Basildon

Baroness Smith of Basildon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice or guidance they have provided to Basildon Borough Council regarding action steps to mitigate the loss of invertebrate biodiversity of the Dry Street Pastures Local Wildlife Site (Ba24), Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex, owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and currently subject to outline planning permission for housing development.

Lord De Mauley: Natural England has advised Basildon Borough Council throughout the planning process for the proposed development at the Nethermayne site. Its advice has focused on statutory interests such as the adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest and protected species. Natural England has referred the council to other ecological consultees, including the Essex Wildlife Trust, Essex Field Club, and Basildon Natural History Society for advice on non-statutory nature conservation matters, including invertebrates.   Natural England provided limited advice on invertebrates as part of its response to the developers’ Outline Biodiversity Strategy. Natural England suggested greater tailoring could be made to address the impacts on specific invertebrates found at the development site and that updated surveys should be used to guide the design of the off-site compensatory grassland to benefit invertebrate species.

Trapping

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to provide updated advice on the use of snares in order to reduce the incidence of indiscriminate trapping of cats and other animals.

Lord De Mauley: Ministers are considering options for improving guidance on snares. A date for publication is yet to be decided.

Home Office

Police: Road Traffic Control

Baroness Smith of Basildon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many traffic police, as full time equivalents, have been employed in Kent each year from 2010 to date.

Lord Bates: The table provided shows the number and proportion of full-time equivalent police officers within the traffic function for Kent Police, as at 31 March 2010 to 31 March 2014.Number of and proportion of full-time equivalent1 police officers within the traffic function2, 3 in Kent Police, as at 31 March 2010 to 31 March 2014.4NumberProportion of total police officers (%)   2010201120122013201420102011201220132014  Kent1381381241121013.63.83.53.43.11. This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been presented to the nearest whole number.2. Traffic function includes staff who are predominantly employed on motor-cycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties to support the traffic function of the force including radar, accident investigation, vehicle examination and traffic administration. Includes those officers working with hazardous chemicals, and those administrative staff predominantly serving the internal needs of the traffic function of the force and those officers in supporting roles.3. Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. This may explain some variability between years.4. Figures have been confirmed by all police forces after collection and before publication each year.

Police: Pensions

Baroness Harris of Richmond: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the details of the new Police Pension Scheme will be made available to all officers.

Baroness Harris of Richmond: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to delay the implementation of the new Police Pension Scheme in the light of the delay in the publication of the scheme.

Baroness Harris of Richmond: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to protect the future of the Police Pension Scheme.

Lord Bates: Information about the main elements of the reform has been in the public domain for some time. This includes: the Reform Design Framework which was published on the Home Office Website on 3 September 2012; an online calculator which allows officers to determine what benefits they might receive under the new arrangements, published on 3 September 2012; and further detailed questions and answers which were published on 19 November 2013. The Police Pensions Regulations 2015 were laid before Parliament on Thursday 5 March after extensive consultation with partners including police officers’ representatives. Members’ guidance was published on Friday 6 March, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-police-pensions-scheme-2015-members-guide. The Police Pensions Regulations 2015 are due to come into force on 1 April 2015; there are no plans to delay implementation. The Government has committed that there will be no further reforms to the public service pension schemes for 25 years. Provisions were included in the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 to ensure that a high bar is set for any future government that seeks to change the schemes.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Lighting: EU Action

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the proposal by the European Commission to ban the use of halogen light bulbs throughout the European Union; whether they will oppose any such policy; and whether they consider that it would comply with the principle of subsidiarity.

Baroness Verma: There are no proposals to ban the use of halogen lightbulbs in the EU. Regulation EC 244/2009, which is made under the provisions of the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products Directive (2009/125/EC), came into force in September 2009. Since then it has progressively removed the least efficient domestic lighting from the market.On 1st September 2016 stage 6 will prevent halogen lightbulbs that are equivalent to a “C” label class from being placed on the EU market. Come September 2016, stocks of “C” class halogens already in the supply chain can continue to be sold and used, though manufacturers will cease supplying new “C” class bulbs at this point. However, “B” and “A” label class halogens lightbulbs will be unaffected by the regulation and will still be allowed.The UK Government supports Ecodesign regulations that reduce energy consumption, thereby reducing consumers’ bills, greenhouse gas emissions and increasing our energy security.

Cabinet Office

Government Departments: Advertising

Baroness Smith of Basildon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the current government-placed advertising campaigns, broken down by issue or purpose of advertisement.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The latest government campaigns running as of March 2015 are listed below. Campaign Name, as of March 2015AlcoholApprenticeshipsBlood Transplant Britain is GREATBroadband VouchersBusiness is GREATCare and SupportChange4Life – Sugar SwapsChild Maintenance Consumer AwarenessCyber Streetwise Drug Drive Energy SwitchingExporting is GREATFamily MediationFire KillsGrowth Deals Guaranteed Growth BondsHelp to BuyHolidays at Homes are GREATMarriage Allowance National Citizens ServiceOne ArmyOrgan TransplantPenionwiseRecruitmentRight to BuyRise AboveRugby World CupScotland CampaignShared Parental LeaveSmall Business Digital CapabilitiesSmokefreeStart4LifeState Pension Top UpSuperfast BroadbandTax-Free SavingsTeacher RecruitmentTraineeshipsUniversal CreditUltra Low Emission VehiclesWorkplace Pensions

Public Appointments

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish any guidance issued to civil servants and appointing panels as to how to judge the appropriateness of the political activity of applicants for appointment to public bodies.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies 2011 sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies. Paragraph 3.11 covers political activity. A link to the Code can be found here: http://www.bing.com/searchq=code+of+conduct+for+board+members&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IENTSR

House of Lords

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will determine when the House of Lords first sits after the general election.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: The date on which Parliament will return will be set out in a Royal Proclamation from Her Majesty the Queen.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Film

Viscount Falkland: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to protect the United Kingdom's film and audiovisual sector, in the light of the digital market proposals suggested by the European Commission; and what steps they plan to take in Brussels to uphold contractual freedom and market-driven solutions in respect of that industry.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government recognises that our film and audio-visual industries often finance their productions by selling on a territorial basis. The Government also believes that a digital single market should make it easier for the consumer to access and use content on fair and reasonable terms across borders. The Government will be engaging with the European Commission and stakeholders to ensure we have a copyright framework that supports economic growth, protects our creators, rewards creativity and responds to consumer needs.

World War I: Anniversaries

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to celebrate the involvement of citizens from the British Empire in the First World War.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: All the government's First World War commemorative events reflect the contribution of the nations of the former Empire. This includes events on 24th and 25th April in Turkey and London respectively to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign.

Broadband

Lord Mawson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the date by which every house in the country, including in rural areas, will have access to superfast broadband.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government has committed to making superfast broadband available to 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017. The Government is also funding a number of pilot projects looking at alternative approaches to delivering superfast broadband beyond 95%.

Department of Health

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 25 February (HL4975), how many adverse incidents due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) have been reported by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency each year since 1991; why the HFEA’s strategy for 2014–17 does not expressly set out the actions it proposes to take as regards OHSS; and to what extent this indicates that the HFEA intends not to take further action to mitigate the risks of OHSS or to "ensure that appropriate standards of practice are implemented consistently throughout the sector" as recommended by the McCracken Report.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has not reported any adverse incidents due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in any year since 1991, as stimulation of the ovaries is the purpose of the medicines used in fertility treatment. OHSS primarily occurs because of an individual patient’s reaction to such medicines.   The HFEA’s strategy for 2014–17 does not expressly set out the actions it proposes to take as regards OHSS because this level of detail is usually set out in the annual business plan that supports the strategy. The HFEA business plan for the current business year (2014-15) was updated in August 2014 to reflect the agreed new strategy. The relevant section states:   ‘With professional groups explore whether more data needs to be collected to better understand factors contributing to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to reduce incidence.’   The updated business plan can be found on the HFEA’s website at the following link and is attached:   http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/2014-08-04_-_Business_Plan_revision_-_mid_2014-2015_pdf_-_active.pdf   The HFEA has advised that this work is ongoing. 



HFEA Business Plan 2014-2015
(PDF Document, 766.84 KB)

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 February (HL4892), whether they have identified any other speculative accounts in the media of the likely timetable for the first mitochondrial donation cycle, based on the research shared on a confidential basis with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Expert Panel; and what steps they and the HFEA have taken in order to ensure that the general public are properly informed of the speculative nature of such accounts.

Earl Howe: I have nothing to add to the written answer given to my noble friend, Lord McColl of Dulwich on 24 February 2015 (HL4892).

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 6 January (HL3422) and the remarks by Earl Howe on 24 February (HL Deb, col 1621), why there is no universally agreed definition of genetic modification in humans if there is not "a scientifically based alternative" to the working definition devised by the Chief Medical Officer; and how other countries have hitherto proceeded without such a working definition.

Earl Howe: We cannot speculate on why there is no universally agreed definition of what would constitute genetic modification in humans or how other countries have addressed this question.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 20 February (HL4711) and the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 25 February (HC224623), what criteria are used by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in determining whether the modification of an embryo culture medium by a clinician prior to its use with permitted gametes or embryos and their ensuing introduction into patients would be considered as the manufacture of a new medical device; and whether the MHRA is notified of individual instances as reported in HFEA inspection reports when the users and manufacturers of such products would accordingly be considered as the same individuals.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it does not have criteria for determining whether the modification of an embryo culture medium by a clinician prior to its use with permitted gametes or embryos and their ensuing introduction into patients would be considered as the manufacture of a new medical device. Where the HFEA has been made aware that clinics were being advised by the manufacturer to modify a CE marked culture medium, it has sought advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on whether this constituted manufacture by the clinic.   The HFEA has also advised that the MHRA has not been notified of individual instances of the modification of an embryo culture medium as reported in inspection reports. The MHRA has advised the HFEA that medical devices manufactured for own use, that is not made available for sale to others, do not fall within the remit of medical devices regulations.

NHS: Finance

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assumptions have been made by Monitor and NHS England on the size of the overall NHS provider sector deficit for 2015–16 should their proposed Enhanced Tariff Offer be accepted.

Earl Howe: NHS England and Monitor have estimated that the Enhanced Tariff Option, set out in the letter to providers from the NHS England and Monitor Chief Executives on 18 February 2015, is worth around £500 million more to providers than the tariff proposals they consulted on for next year, as a consequence of differences including a lower efficiency requirement and an increase in the marginal rate reimbursement for increases in emergency admissions. Estimates of the financial position for individual providers and for the NHS provider sector as a whole, will be dependent on the outcomes of the planning process for 2015-16, which is still underway.

Dementia: Nurses

Baroness Pinnock: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Admiral Nurses are employed in each of the local authority districts in England; and how that relates to the numbers of individuals suffering from dementia in those areas.

Baroness Pinnock: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for increasing the numbers of Admiral Nurses to ensure that all individuals with dementia, and their families, have access to the support provided by those nurses.

Earl Howe: There are many models of supporting people with dementia and their families. Admiral Nurses are one model of care and there are other models such as peer support and services offered by other voluntary sector organisations.   The Department does not collect statistics over how many Admiral Nurses are employed in each of the local authority districts in England.   Decisions on Admiral Nurses are made at a local level by health and social care commissioners determining the services to best meet the needs of their local population.   On 21 February 2015, the Prime Minister announced the launch of his new Challenge on Dementia towards 2020. This set out to build on the achievements of the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2012-2015. It aims to identify what needs to be done to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020.   In the Challenge on Dementia 2020, the Government set key aspirations aimed at improving quality and level of care:   - every person diagnosed with dementia having meaningful care following their diagnosis, which supports them and those around them, with meaningful care being in accordance with published National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standards;   - carers of people with dementia are to be made aware of and offered the opportunity for respite, education, training, emotional and psychological support so that they feel able to cope with their caring responsibilities and to have a life alongside caring; and   - people with dementia and their carers receiving information on what post-diagnosis services are available locally and how these can be accessed, through for example an annual ‘information prescription’.

Endoscopy

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what investment they have made in endoscopy services over the last five years; and what investment will be made in endoscopy services in the next five years, in the light of changes in expected demand for endoscopy services.

Earl Howe: This information is not held centrally.

Endoscopy

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of introducing mandatory Joint Advisory Group on gastrointestinal endoscopy (JAG) Accreditation for both public and private endoscopy units.

Earl Howe: The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on Gastro-Intestinal Endoscopy, hosted by the Royal College of Physicians, aims to ensure quality across endoscopy services. It agrees and sets standards for endoscopy units, and quality assures endoscopy services and training. It achieves these objectives through accreditation visits, annual self-reporting using the Global Rating Scale (GRS), offering training, quality assuring training courses, certifying individuals and providing a knowledge management system. The JAG accreditation of an endoscopy unit is the formal recognition that an endoscopy service has demonstrated that it has the competence to meet the measures set out in the endoscopy GRS standards. The JAG accreditation scheme is a patient-centred and workforce focused scheme, which is independently assessed against recognised endoscopy standards. The scheme was developed for all endoscopy services and providers across the United Kingdom in the National Health Service and independent sector.   The JAG accreditation process encourages continuous improvement in processes and patient outcomes, strengthens endoscopy services, provides a knowledge base of best practices, improves the management and efficiency of services, and provides a knowledge base and education on best practices.   There is an endoscopy procedure Best Practice Tariff introduced in 2013-14 to encourage endoscopy units to achieve and maintain the required quality levels to meet the JAG accreditation standard for endoscopy services.

Endoscopy

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of trained and certified colonoscopists needed to meet the demand for colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies over the next five years.

Earl Howe: Between May 2010 and November 2014, we have seen a 29.1% increase in consultant gastroenterologists, from 1,788 to 2,302.   A Joint Endoscopy Working Group, set up by NHS England's National Clinical Director for Diagnostics and Imaging, has been analysing the latest data, and an action plan is being developed to ensure sufficient endoscopy capacity in the short and long term. The action plan will cover a wide range of organisations including Health Education England, NHS England, clinical commissioning groups and providers of endoscopy services. Potential actions identified include: developing robust endoscopy capacity and demand data; a national workforce strategy for endoscopy; supporting the training of non-medical endoscopists; including sufficient endoscopy capacity in business planning; and identifying new pathways and models of working.   In addition NHS Improving Quality has developed The Productive Endoscopy Series, a set of self-directed learning resources that will help all staff working in endoscopy units to make better use of existing resources and deliver a more efficient and effective service to patients seven days a week.

Colorectal Cancer

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many men and women over the age of 74 have opted in to the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme by (1) screening hub, and (2) screening centre.

Earl Howe: The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme holds data for the number of men and women screened aged 75 and over, observing that nearly 15,000 men have self-referred to be screened for bowel cancer and just over 13,000 women. A table showing the number of screenings in each centre in England is attached.   Further, at the end of January 2015, nearly 25 million Faecal Occult Blood test (FOBt) kits had been sent out to men and women aged 60-74 to self-sample at home. Over 15 million kits have been returned by post to one of five regional laboratories (programme hubs). Since the Programme began in 2006, over 21,000 cancers have been detected and over 122,000 patients have been managed for polyps, including polyp removal. 



Number of screenings in each centre
(Word Document, 75 KB)